Acute respiratory infection or ARI is a disease that often occurs in the community, especially during the dry season which is very prone to forest and land fires which may cause smoke disasters.
"ARI impacts greatly on public health, especially during pandemic, ARI can be extremely fatal combination," said Public Health Specialist of Katingan Mentaya Project, Bellini Simangunsong during the awareness activity in Babirah Village.
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She explained that ARI awareness activities are planned to be held in 28 villages in 4 districts in East Kotawaringin and Katingan Regencies. "The whole series of ARI awareness will end on 27 July in Mendawai District, Katingan Regency," explained Bellini. "As it is now the dry season, and ARI is the most common disease during this time, by this activities we aim to make the public aware that any smoke disaster caused by forest and land fires will not only have impact on the economy but also bad for health," she said.
According to her, the health workers from the local Public Health Center (Puskesmas) invited as resource persons, they will explain to the community that they should not open land by burning as it will cause smoke disasters such as the events in 2015 and 2019 which had very fatal results. "Inhaling smoke will reduce a person’s immune system, make him very susceptible to contracting various diseases," explained Bellini.
Meanwhile on the same occasion, Babirah Village Head, Julam Effendi said "This activity is very useful for our village members, especially for residents who do not know what ARI is," said Julam.
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